Hot new faces of the Chicago stage

Justin Berkobien, playing guitar

Justin Berkobien, 27


Without this remarkable young perfomer, "The Buddy Holly Story" would not be moving downtown this fall. But thanks to Berkobien's electrifying turn this spring at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, the jukebox show is headed for the Mag Mile. Berkobien, who also appears briefly as a reporter in "The Dark Knight" Batman movie, is from Michigan and graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in 2004. We hear he blew people away at the "Buddy" audition. No wonder. He's a huge talent. "That'll Be the Day"? For Berkobien, it's already here.